Hygæa, sundhedens gudinde, siddende med Asklepios' stav og slange 1832

Editor: So, this is "Hygæa, sundhedens gudinde, siddende med Asklepios' stav og slange" by Hermann Ernst Freund, sculpted in 1832, out of marble. She seems so pensive, almost melancholy, don't you think? The cool, smooth marble only enhances that sense of serene contemplation. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Pensive is a beautiful observation. For me, she's caught in a moment of quiet strength, a still point in the dance of well-being. Freund's decision to render her in marble really anchors that sense of timelessness, doesn't it? The Neoclassical style, with its emphasis on reason and order, aligns beautifully with the idea of health as balance. But look at the snake. It isn't aggressive, or frightening. More like a curious companion. Almost cuddly, would you say? Editor: Definitely cuddly! It’s amazing how Freund managed to make a snake seem approachable. So, the snake isn’t just a symbol of poison but of healing? Curator: Precisely! It sheds its skin, renewing itself – a metaphor for regeneration. I wonder if Freund felt that as an artist, he, too, was participating in a form of cultural healing, by drawing inspiration from the classical past and using that to convey ideas about harmony. It’s not just about portraying Hygea; it's about inviting us to reflect on our own pursuit of wholeness. What will you take away from this? Editor: The idea of "wholeness" resonantes; there's a stillness in her thoughtfulness, rather than any sense of melancholy that suggests she embodies complete serenity, and invites the viewer to that end, as well. The marble brings a fresh outlook into a classical piece, to encourage health by finding balance and reflection in oneself. Curator: Beautiful! To look and think.